This is wonderful, Sam. I love the words of Anne Frank, and you arranged them in a beautiful and effective poetic way which breathed life into them again! Anne's life is indeed much more than a single candle...and does both defy and define darkness!

I've read the Diary numerous times, and it always maintains its hold. How you've arranged Frank's words here opens them in a wholly different way, and yet... That image of the single candle is well-placed. Its meaning is what we want to be left with.

a wonderful cento sam and you honor her deeply with this..really touched me again...saw the house she lived in when i was in amsterdam..the closure really brought me to tears..it is true..a single candle is enough to defy the darkness..thanks for this sam..really can't tell how much i enjoyed it..

I think this is very powerful, very emotive...and the use of the single candle at the start and in conclusion intensifies the massage. Beautiful writing. I haven't yet written a Cento, I aim to try for tomorrow (currently I spend more time on photography than poetry..because I'm feeling lazy).

very nice sam....picked up pretty quick on the anne frank but you have done wonders with it as well...spent some time with her writing and her story a little over a year ago...oy..you took me back there....def powerful....

I am fascinated by the idea of the cento, and IN AWE at how you made Anne's voice speak so clearly. You encapsulated her entire diary in this poem. She would so love to know that her voice is STILL speaking to our hearts, all these years later. Beautiful, Sam. Absolutely stunning.

How wonderful Sam - this is a different treatment for a cento than I've attempted; it's perfect and brings Frank's voice alive. As others have said, the candle burns brightly throughout - it does centre the piece and reflects Frank's voice and optimism as well ... very, very nice.

/It doesn't matter. I feel like writing/ stays with me. It seems the Cento can be entirely from one source, as you suggested, and it can contain some of your own work to pull things together. Had fun with it, sir.

Her writing will keep her memory and her story alive. It's incredible to me that many people don't believe the holocaust happened. Your brilliantly placed quotes construct a timeline over which she felt the inevitability of her death, but never lost faith in humankind or hope for a future after she dies. An affecting work.

Beautiful poem Sam! You maintained the connection and sequence most brilliantly. I took a whole stanza and alternate with mine.Invariably it might appear to be hanging as I took from 3 different poems. Ah..well. Hopefully my posting is a Cento. Thanks Sam!

She was and still is such an inspiration. Her soul was and still is the candle.You have written something with a little spark of magic in it Sam. Taken something awful and turned it into beauty just as Anne tried to keep seeing only the good in man.Yes, until humans are forced to globally have a mindset change, nothing will change.

Samuel, this is a beautiful collaboration of words, exploring courage, duty, and faith. I love her sensible voice and the clear light in her heart. Wonderful arrangement of visions, the glorious mountains of food, mankind's innate urge, and the hopeful transformation. Very powerful. Thank you for this interesting exercise.

This is deeply moving...beautiful. I love how at first we are asked to look at the candle and then at the end the 'see' is more of a gesture to the candle which makes you feel you are there with her...especially after reading the rest...I was there with her. Well done!

Oh Sam, this is so very beautiful. I read Anne's words for the first time when I was about 13 years old and her life, and light have stayed with me always... she was - is still a single candle, amongst many single candles defying darkness through the ages.

Sam, thanks for the very cool prompt. Have enjoyed reading some of these Centos over the year, and had dabbled in the form before, but never anything like what you inspired me to come up with the other night. I love the way you did yours , a perfect illustration of what can be with this form, perfectly in line with the excellent article posted for the prompt. Thanks

about samuel peralta

The titles set in his Labyrinth universe have begun to garner praise from readers, with several short stories released and a novel series in the works.

The titles in his Future Chronicles short story anthology series in speculative fiction have all been #1 bestsellers on Amazon.

The titles in the Semaphore collection were all #1 Amazon Kindle Hot New Releases, and ranked at the top of the Bestseller lists, in their category.

He has been recognized with awards from the BBC, UK Poetry Society, Digital Literature Institute, a Palanca Award, and shortlists for the League of Canadian Poets, Elgin Award, ARC Poem of the Year, Amazon and GoodReads.

With a growing following for his speculative fiction and poetry series, Peralta continues to strive to be at the forefront of the new literary renaissance.
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praise for the writing of samuel peralta

"Luminous... What power in these concise, muscled lines."
- Hannah Stephenson, The Storialist & The Huffington Post

"[Peralta] writes of things that matter, so beautifully and simply, he can reduce you to tears."
- Julia Williams, Amazon bestselling author of The Summer Season

"When I first read 'Hush' I was moved by this most subtle of love poems. Now it's in my collection of favourites."
- Wendy Cope, Poet, previous Judge of Man Booker Prize and of UK Poetry Society and BBC Poetry Prize

"[Peralta] amazes with a crystal-clear view..."
- Maria Jacobs, Poet, publisher and previous Judge of League of Canadian Poets National Poetry Prize

"Magic... As beautiful as the snowfall outside my window."
- Beth Hoffman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

"Few poets alive can transcend free verse and metered form to grasp the ineffable... Peralta is that kind of poet."
- Christopher Reilley, Poet laureate of Dedham, Massachusetts and author of Grief Tattoos

about semaphore

Semaphore is a literary project and persona, founded in 2009 by Samuel Peralta.

In the early days of the social network Twitter, while others streamed status updates, Peralta was one of the first to stream original poetry - as @Semaphore.

Semaphore became an online phenomenon, with nearly five million downloads of 300+ poems, acclaimed for their emotive impact and craftsmanship.

These poems - originally texts, posts and streams on multiple platforms - are now being collected and preserved in the books of The Semaphore Collection.

Author photograph by Antosia Fiedur Photography. Copyright to images illustrating book covers or poems are as attributed in each work, and used with permission of the original copyright holder; or via Wikimedia Commons, licensed as per the corresponding license for the source.

Titles by Samuel Peralta are published by Windrift Books, a division of Windrift Bay.
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